Union Learning Representative’s Networking Event – 30^th & 31^stOctober 2024

 The purpose of this LTB is to advise Branches that this year’s Union Learning Representative’s (ULR) Networking Event will take place on Wednesday 30^th and Thursday 31^stOctober 2024 at:

Crowne Plaza Newcastle

Stephenson Quarter

Hawthorn Square, Forth Street

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE1 3SA

 Branches will be aware that ULR legislation provides for networking with other ULRs and organisations that deliver education and training opportunities to our members and representatives.

The event will start with registration on 30^th October between 12.30 and 13.30and will conclude at 15.00 on 31^stOctober.  Please note that lunch will not be provided on the first day.

A final agenda will be issued in due course but will include:

• Keynote speakers 
• Practical activities and workshops to support learning in the workplace
• And a celebration of your collective achievements!

The agenda will be shared nearer the time but in the meantime, we would ask that Branches confirm their delegation details, accessibility requirements and any dietary requirements by emailing equality&education@cwu.org

The closing date for providing dietary requirements is 14^th October.

Please note that Branches are responsible for delegates’ travel and authorised expenditure for this event.  

 Accommodation: 

 It is important that Branches book places early at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle, as they will be holding a number of rooms at a special rate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until 24^thSeptember 2024.

Booking arrangements:

Bookings can be made via the hotel website by using the following link:

CWU ULR Education Event 30.10.24 For clarity, once you choose the dates, you will see the preferential CWU rates confirmed. 

Please note that a credit card is required to reserve the room – no charge will be made to your account, it is just to reserve the room.

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for nights of Wednesday 30^th and Thursday 31^st October)

 Rooms are charged @ £115 for single occupancy per room, per night, inclusive of full English breakfast & complimentary use of the leisure facilities.  {Rooms will be held at this rate until 24^th September, after which time they will be released and the preferential rate will not be available}.

 Parking & Transportation:

The Hotel is a 5 min walk just behind Newcastle Central Station. Further Parking & Transportation details can be found using this link: Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter Map & Driving Directions (ihg.com)

Release

This event should attract paid release for accredited ULRs working for employers where the CWU is recognised.  The event is specifically designed to meet the aims of ULR legislation and is fully supported through the Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.  The ACAS Code of Practice applies.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the Equality, Education & Development Department by email to equality&education@cwu.org

#CWULearn24 

 Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 295/24 – Union Learning Representatives Networking Event – 30th and 31st October 2024

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UPDATE: New Entrants’ Terms and Conditions

All Branches will recall that at the National Briefing on Recruitment and Organsing held on 10th July, we announced that we would be offering a reduced union subscription rate for new entrants who have been employed since 1st December 2022.

The reason for the initial reduced subscription is in recognition of the fact that Royal Mail imposed the new terms and conditions without agreement with the CWU. Royal Mail’s rationale for introducing the new terms and conditions is to reduce the costs of recruiting new staff but also because the union refused to have compulsory Sunday working for our members.

As part of the BRT&G Agreement we are in discussions with Royal Mail on how we can improve new entrants’ terms and conditions.

Prior to the BRT&G Agreement Royal Mail did not want those employed from 1st December 2022 to be the subject of collective bargaining or within a union.

There are circa 17,000 new entrants who have joined Royal Mail since 1st December 2022. Current attrition rates for new entrants are at 16% nationally but is much higher in certain areas. In addition, up to 25% of new entrants who leave Royal Mail do so within 90 days of joining.

There are a number of reasons why attrition rates are higher for new entrants. These include:

• Royal Mail advertise for new entrants up to 40 hours but the vast majority are employed on part-time hours.

• Where new entrants are having to work all or most Sundays.

• Where they do not get suitable training and support especially at least 6 weeks on a fixed walk.

On a wider level, we believe it is also down to the lower rate of pay and terms and conditions.

New entrants’ hourly rate is just 54p more than the national living wage and £1.17 above the national minimum wage. They do not receive RRIS, inner or outer London weighting, the delivery supplement, they do not have paid meal reliefs and are monthly paid.

As part of our discussions with Royal Mail we want to improve new entrants’ terms and conditions and this is part of our strategy – to offer a temporary reduced union subscription to new entrants. Once we have improved their terms and conditions, we will give them 3 months’ notice that they will move to full rate.

CWU membership have now updated their membership system to ensure that there is a drop-down menu which allows for anyone who has joined Royal Mail since 1st December 2022 to go to the reduced rate.

The new rate of £9.41 (without political levy) and £10.28 (with political levy), will be introduced from week commencing 9th September. We are going to launch communications publicly next week about the campaign.

We are also going to ask Divisional Reps and Regional Secretaries to support Branches in communicating the union’s strategy of lower union fees to maximise membership numbers to provide the strength to improve their terms and conditions.

Finally, Branches who have already recruited new entrants should contact membership to ensure that they benefit from the introductory union subscription rate.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

LTB 296/24 – UPDATE New Entrants’ Terms and Conditions

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Your Voice in the Workplace – September 2024 

Please find attached the September Workplace Bulletin.

We will be sending you out a limited print run (approx. 10 per cent of branch membership) of this Edition, which should reach you by the end of this week for distribution to your reps to take into workplaces.

You also have the link to print immediate copies and/or to print off more copies.

It is crucial that branches are distributing the monthly bulletin in every workplace. The purpose is to ensure members are receiving written content from the union directly into their workplaces, so your role in that process is integral.

Thank you for your support and please contact us with your feedback on the Bulletin.

Click to access 08160-your-voice-RMG-issue-7-Sept-2up.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

24LTB294 Your Voice in the Workplace September 2024

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Ofcom Future of the Universal Service

Ofcom today produced an update on the responses they received from their original consultation launched in January 2024.  Ofcom also set out the next steps including considering Royal Mail’s proposal for USO reform.

Ofcom’s paper indicates that they will publish a consultation on Royal Mail’s proposed changes in early 2025 with a view to publishing a decision statement in the Summer of 2025.

We have ongoing discussions with Royal Mail on the proposed USO change alongside a growth strategy for parcels.

The CWU have expressed our concerns over the current quality of service in Delivery Offices, which we believe is down to unmanageable workloads and resourcing problems.

We will now consider Ofcom’s latest paper and also engage with Royal Mail.

The CWU will then provide a further update to Branches and members on USO reform.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)                                

Dave Ward
General Secretary

LTB 293-24 – Ofcom Future of the Universal Service

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INTERNAL MOVEMENTS WITHIN ROYAL MAIL

Please see attached a letter from Andrew Smith, Head of Industrial Relations on behalf of
Royal Mail.

This letter confirms that any individual who is on terms and conditions pre 1st December 2022 will remain on those terms if they move/transfer to another office within Royal Mail.
In addition, they retain their terms and conditions if they go from full time to part time.

Furthermore, the confirmation provided will now mean vacancies within a unit will be
advertised internally rather than going straight to external recruitment. We are now
discussing with Royal Mail how this is applied retrospectively to anyone who has moved
units or reduced their hours since 1st December 2022.

Discussions continue concerning resolving the issue of part timers who increase their hours
up to full time being able to remain on their current contract of employment. These
discussions are being covered in our meetings on USO reform and new entrants’ terms and
conditions.

We hope to be in a position to update you on the above shortly. In the meantime, please
can Branches ensure that this LTB and attachment is given the widest publicity.

Any enquiries in relation to the content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGSP
Department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 290.24 Internal Movements Within RM

LTB 290.24 Attachment 1

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ROYAL MAIL GROUP: PENSIONS TRAINING – CONFERENCE MOTION 11 

We are pleased to report that all 10 training workshops have now been completed. All reports received confirm that the sessions have been hugely successful and well received by all concerned. Accordingly, we wish to thank Paul Kennedy Divisional Representative who delivered the training for all his endeavours in this regard.

We are aware that some Reps have been unable to attend their session. We are therefore planning to have a mop up session to provide a new and further opportunity to receive the training. The date and venue are as follows:

• Monday 16th September – Venue: Birmingham District Amal, CWU, 47 Summer Lane, Hockley, Birmingham, B19 3TH

This session is open to all who would have been eligible to attend the earlier sessions. Any travel or overnight expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the Branch.

It is obviously necessary to monitor attendance at this session so that we have a manageable number of attendees. Therefore if anyone wishes to attend, please advise Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.orgproviding your name, Branch & Representative role by next Wednesday 11^thSeptember. In the event we are oversubscribed with Reps wanting to attend, consideration will be given to arranging a further session.

Lastly, Royal Mail have been positive in supporting this crucial activity. In this regard Angela Gough, Director of Corporate Pensions and Emma Weston-Green, Head of RMCPP Executive and Scheme Secretary will also be presenting at the session primarily around the introduction of the new Collective Plan. This is a valuable contribution that is complementary to Paul Kennedy’s activities.

Any queries in relation to this LTB should be directed to Samantha Nicholas at snicholas@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary 

Attachment 1: 24LTB289 RM – Pensions Training – Conference Motion 11

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National Equality Event, Newcastle – 21^st & 22^nd October 2024 

**Preferential Hotel Room Rates Extended until 20^th September 2024**

Further to LTB 283/24, which confirmed the details for our National Equality Event, we are writing to encourage Branches to take advantage of the preferential room rates negotiated by the department, outlined again for your benefit below.

Booking arrangements: Bookings can be made via the hotel website by using the following link:

CWU Equality Event 21.10.24

For clarity, once you choose the dates, you will see the preferential CWU rates confirmed. 

Please note that a credit card is required to reserve the room – no charge will be made to your  account, it is just to reserve the room.

Accommodation rates: (preferential CWU rates for nights of Monday 21stand Tuesday 22nd

October), Rooms are charged @ £110 for standard rooms or King Rooms @ £125 for single occupancy per room, per night, both inclusive of full English breakfast & complimentary use of the leisure facilities. {Rooms will be held at this rate until 20th September, after which time they will be released and the preferential rate will not be available}.  The rates above cannot be guaranteed beyond 20^th September. 

Please be reminded to confirm your delegation details and any dietary requirements by emailing equality&education@cwu.org  The closing date for providing dietary requirements is 1^st October.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to equality&education@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Kate Hudson

Head of Equality, Education & Development

LTB 288/24 – National Equality Event, Newcastle – 21st & 22nd October 2024

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MARK BAULCH NATIONAL OUTDOOR OFFICER – LEAVING THE CWU

We have been advised by Mark Baulch, National Outdoor Officer, that he will not be seeking reelection in the forthcoming National Officer elections and will be leaving the CWU, once the election has concluded.

On behalf of the Postal Executive, we would like to place on record our sincere thanks for the work Mark has undertaken in representing our members and the union over many years.

Mark joined the CWU/RM in 1983 as a postal worker and has held many representative positions at local, branch, area, divisional, and national levels. Throughout his long career at the union, he has made an excellent contribution to the CWU and we will be marking this at a future date.

We are sure all CWU representatives and branches will join in our appreciation for Mark’s dedicated work in the CWU and our predecessor union, also within the wider trade union movement and in wishing him and his family all the best for the future.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Ward                

General Secretary                                                   

Martin Walsh                                                  

Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

LTB 287/24 – MARK BAULCH NATIONAL OUTDOOR OFFICER – RETIREMENT

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National Network PIR

Please find attached the following:

1. Letter dated 20^th August 2024 from Alistair Cochrane regarding commencing the network PIR for week commencing 9^th September 2024.
2. A signed copy of the national Joint Statement for the PIR.

In line with the Joint Statement all local Mail Centre Catchment Groups should meet week commencing 9^th September to review how the network review has landed for the period 17^thJune – 1^st September 2024.  The aim is to conclude the first phase PIR by 11^th October 2024.

The Joint Statement provides metrics of what you should review.  However, your experience of what has happened within each unit will be invaluable.

The PIR will also allow you to discuss whether there is the potential to review start and finish time across the week.  The extent of what you can do will vary unit by unit and within different Mail Centre catchment areas.

The PIR allows for a 3-step process in these discussions as follows:

Step 1 – Local Mail Centre Catchment Group
Step 2 – ROD/Divisional Steering Group
Step 3 – National Joint Working Group

It is also important to recognise that the network change has not yet experienced a peak period, so any change must take this into account.

There will be a further opportunity to have a network PIR (phase 2) week beginning 20^thJanuary 2025 that covers the period of 2^ndSeptember 2024 to 10^th January 2025.

Branches should note that under the proposed USO change workload on Mondays and Tuesdays will potentially look very different from how it is currently.  The early modelling suggests that Mondays and Tuesdays will become the heaviest days of the week. It is therefore important that Branches take this into consideration when reviewing start and finish times.

We would encourage all Branches to ensure that they engage with Royal Mail in line with the terms of the National Joint Statement and the agreed escalation process.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be referred to the DGSP department.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

LTB 286.24 National Network PIR

LTB 286.24 Attachment 1 National PIR Commencement Letter 20 08 24

LTB 286.24 Attachment 2 Joint Statement Network Window National PIR process 17th June Final

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SOUTHPORT TRAGEDY – CWU BRANCH APPEAL

As members may be aware (LTB 274/24), postal worker and CWU member David Stancombe from Southport Delivery Office lost his beautiful daughter Elsie Dot in the appalling attack in the town on Monday 29th July.

The funeral of Elsie Dot took place last Friday where hundreds gathered to celebrate the life of this amazing little girl. Postal workers from Southport created a convoy of red vehicles to show support for their colleague David Stancombe. The family wanted a colourful service to celebrate her life and for it to be ‘Elsie’s Special Day’. It was a very emotional day, especially when listening to the tributes from her parents, school friends and teachers. We continue to offer our support and deepest condolences to David and his family.

In consultation with David’s branch, North Lancs & Cumbria, we have now launched a CWU branch appeal to help David and his family in memory of Elsie Dot. CWU Representatives will be meeting with David and his wife Jennifer in a couple of weeks to discuss how best to use any donations received.

If your branch would like to make a donation, please see below details:

Account Name:                   CWU GENERAL FUND

Account Number:              33019822

Sort Code:                            60-83-01

Reference:                           Elsie Dot

We understand that many members may want to share this appeal with friends or family but due to financial restrictions, please do not share these bank details outside of the union as this appeal is only open to donations from CWU branches.

Thank you for your continuing solidarity and support in this tragic matter. If you have any questions, please contact the General Secretary’s office at jdunn@cwu.org.

Yours Sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary                                      

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary                    

24LTB285 SOUTHPORT TRAGEDY – CWU BRANCH APPEAL

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